SAN DIEGO — Boring victories, too.

Oregon State’s offense and defense helped it earn its first away win in 41 years, beating San Diego State 21-0 on a warm, muggy Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium.

OSU (2-0) got rushing touchdowns from Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson, more than enough for a Beavers defense that held SDSU in check for most of the four quarters. Oregon State rushed for 237 yards and had a time of possession edge of more than 2-to-1.

The Beavers closed it out with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Gevani McCoy to Bryce Caufield late in the fourth quarter.

Oregon State’s last shutout away from home was the infamous 0-0 tie at Oregon in 1983. The Beavers’ last shutout away from home in a win came in 1976, a 59-0 victory over Hawaii.

While the Beavers controlled the game with their running game, they also did a fair bit of passing. Quarterback Gevani McCoy threw 26 times for 181 yards. OSU receiver Trent Walker set a career high with eight catches for 92 yards.

The Beavers limited San Diego State’s top offensive weapon, Marquez Cooper. The senior running back, who is the NCAA’s active rushing leader with more than 4,100 career yards, had 13 carries for 53 yards.

San Diego State managed just 179 offensive yards. SDSU didn’t cross midfield for the first time until midway through the third quarter.

Oregon State dominated the first half, but led only 7-0 at halftime. The Beavers more than doubled San Diego State’s yardage total, mounting drives of 11 and 13 plays, but came away from the first half with a single touchdown.

That came on the Beavers’ opening drive. It was a jam-packed drive, as Griffin touched the ball on four of five plays, ending with a 16-yard touchdown run that saw him cross the goal line by diving into the end zone.

San Diego State never crossed midfield on any of its six first-half drives. SDSU’s offense was plagued by penalties and a running game that didn’t do much.

OSU had a chance to extend its lead before halftime, when the Beavers drove to the SDSU 21 in the final seconds. The drive was fruitless, however, as Everett Hayes was wide right on a 38-yard field goal attempt.

The Beavers had a chance to make it 14-0 early in the third quarter when they pulled off a perfectly executed flea flicker. McCoy threw a long strike to a streaking Walker, who dropped the ball at the SDSU 10.

That led to a run and the first sign of life from San Diego State on offense. A 35-yard pass from Danny O’Neil gave SDSU first-and-goal at the 7. But on third-and-goal, Jack Kane saved the Beavers by forcing O’Neil to fumble. Nikko Taylor recovered at the OSU 2 to keep the shutout intact.

Oregon State turned around with a soul-sucking drive to make it 14-0 early in the fourth quarter. The Beavers intimidated San Diego State with the running game and a long pass, with Hankerson finishing the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. It was similar to Griffin’s first-quarter score, when he ran around the left side, outran the defense and then dove into the end zone. The big pass play was a 41-yard third-down pass from McCoy to Walker.

Two minutes later, Amarion York made a big special teams play with a blocked punt, setting up a short field for the Beavers. The drive came to nothing, as Hayes missed a 54-yard field goal try with 8:52 to go.

The Beavers played Saturday’s game without three potential starters in nickel Noble Thomas Jr., outside linebacker Olu Omotosho and receiver Darrius Clemens, all of whom were sidelined with injuries.

Oregon State returns to action next Saturday when the Beavers host Oregon at 12:30 p.m. at Reser Stadium (Fox).

— Nick Daschel can be reached at 360-607-4824, [email protected] or @nickdaschel.

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